Nathan Cullen endorses Jagmeet Singh for federal NDP leadership

Voting underway to choose next NDP leader, who will be named next month

NDP leadership candidate Jagmeet Singh walks with NDP MP Nathan Cullen on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. The Veteran New Democrat MP is throwing his weight behind the leadership bid of upstart candidate Singh, a member of the Ontario legislature. (The Canadian Press)

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Veteran B.C. MP and former federal NDP leadership candidate Nathan Cullen has endorsed Jagmeet Singh in the current race to pick a replacement for Tom Mulcair.

Cullen, who represents Skeena-Bulkley Valley in northern B.C., and Ontario MPP Singh made the announcement during a Wednesday morning news conference in Ottawa.

Cullen, who finished third in the 2012 race won by Mulcair, said Singh has a broad appeal and strong social democratic values, while adding it was a tough decision with three other strong candidates in contention.

"We have a candidate here who … ticks all the boxes for me," Cullen said.

"[He has an] ability to connect with people [and] ability to hold policies he believes in and manifest those policies as opposed to just saying something to get elected."

Singh said he has been watching Cullen's career and work with "incredible admiration," and it's an honour to have his support.

Singh and Cullen said they did not talk about Cullen getting a position in the party or certain policies promoted because of his endorsement.

Cullen says Singh ticks all the boxes1:51

As for comments from Mulcair, that it would be "a heck of a lot better" to have the next leader hold a seat in the House of Commons, Cullen said the party didn't get out of the Ottawa bubble enough last election.

Singh has said he's not concerned about not having a seat on Parliament Hill and that he can use the time to meet Canadians and rebuild the party's support.